June 9, 2021
By: Dadson A. Musa
The United Nations Resident Coordinator attached to Sierra Leone, Dr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi has highlighted the things we should do as a country in order to break free from the shackles of poverty, hunger and improve on our democratic credentials. He called on the media to inspire the citizenry through awareness rising on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG`S).
The SDGs are so inter-related that doing very well in one pillar will have positive effects on so many others or all of them. As the country has become more food insecure there is need for awareness raising so that the country with its vast fertile farm land can produce enough food for its people and stop importing huge quantity of its staple food, rice.
Covid-19 he said has impacted negatively on food security over the last year and this to him should be a cause for concern. He called on the media to engage in fact checking and data-based reporting which will help informed decision making.
That the solution to Sierra Leone’s problems is not lost on the United Nations (UN) as it has been experimented in other countries and has worked successfully. He believes that there should be sound socio-economic policies backed up by sustained and disciplined implementation.
The UN Resident Coordinator admonished that the country has been able over the last few years to tackle the maternal mortality rate.
He reminded the gathering that Sierra Leone used to be called the Mecca for journalists and therefore called on the media to do balanced and objective reporting. As the elections approach, he cautioned journalists not to take sides but rather to do due diligence and report fairly on the campaign and the voting process. It will be in the best interest of the public to know how the general elections will be going. Journalists, he went on are the fourth estate and must play their part to strengthen the democratic gains Sierra Leone has been gradually making. With the repeal of the criminal libel law it is now time for the media to step up and play its constitutional role in developing this country. There are improvements and gains made so far in the country which we must build on but cautioned that there is more to be done to make this country a great nation. The free quality education is a step in the right direction although it will take time to reap the benefits.
However, Dr. Ahonsi coordinates 21 UN agencies in the country.